Sticky Hold

Sticky Hold provides crucial protection against item removal moves in competitive play, preventing opposing Pokemon from stealing or knocking off the holder's item. While moves like Knock Off and Pluck can still deal their full damage to a Sticky Hold user, they cannot remove the held item, which often represents the primary threat these moves pose. This creates a significant defensive advantage, as items like Leftovers, Choice items, and type-resist berries remain safely attached regardless of the opponent's attempts to remove them.

The ability does have an important limitation: it only prevents other Pokemon from removing items, not the user itself. This means Pokemon with Sticky Hold can still voluntarily give up their items through moves like Fling, Trick, or Switcheroo, maintaining offensive flexibility when needed. This selective protection makes the ability particularly valuable for Pokemon that rely heavily on their held items for survival or strategy execution.

Among notable users, Gastrodon benefits greatly from guaranteed Leftovers recovery, while the newer Hydrapple and Dipplin can maintain their items against common Knock Off users. The ability has remained mechanically unchanged since its Generation 3 introduction, consistently serving as a reliable counter to item removal strategies. In formats where Knock Off is prevalent, Sticky Hold can provide the consistency needed for item-dependent strategies to succeed.